Chapter 13 The Eleventh Round of the Great Victory at the Frontier Pass

Meng Tian was born out of nowhere, and retreated to Jiuyuan County thousands of miles away, and his reputation spread far and wide.Everyone in the imperial court applauded his return, especially Shi Huang, the Ninth Five-Year Supreme, was even more happy.In a few days, the royal driver greeted the northern suburbs in person, and both the monarch and his ministers drove back to the palace.Meng Tian still had something hard to let go of in his heart, he knelt at the door of the house to apologize to his mother... The messenger traveled day and night, and Pegasus went straight to Xianyang, the capital.Although the wild desert horse was short in stature, it had great stamina. It ran all the way to the important gate of the capital. Seeing that it was foaming at the mouth and sweating all over, it still opened its leopard eyes wide, and its bamboo ears stood upright like a knife.It snorted fiercely a few times, and poured hot urine on the avenue paved with a mixture of loess, gravel, and white ash in front of the Wuchao Gate, causing the guards to yell at the soldiers who had just dismounted in disgust: "What are you doing? You thought it was your stable..."

The travel-stained soldier, with his shiny black and broad face, just kept smiling to make amends: "I'm sorry, this bastard really doesn't have eyes..." "Don't do this." The handyman with tall fingers said, with the absolute advantage of the imperial city's handyman over thousands of households outside the Great Wall: "I tell you, that beast is disobedient, but you have to abide by the rules here. You can take as much as you want with me..." "What are you doing?" A handsome young man just about to enter the door asked in surprise.The handyman hurriedly knelt and kowtowed upon hearing this: "Young master, it's nothing..." Fusu turned to look at the dusty northern strong man, and immediately softened his tone: "Is it the messenger from Beijiang back to Beijing?" The strong man Seeing that guy kneeling and kowtowing to the handsome young master just now, he guessed who it was. He lifted up his shirt, knelt down on one knee, and saluted the young master with his right hand on the ground: "I have seen you, young master!"

Fusu looked at this honest and simple man, felt very kind, and stretched out his hand to support him: "No need to be like this, let's go in quickly!" "Thank you, my lord." The messenger stood up and gave way: "My lord, please..." Fu Su did not go first, but turned to the handyman who was still kneeling on the ground: "My lord has seen what you did just now, what should I do next?" Do you should understand?" "Yes, yes, I understand..." The handyman was too frightened to look up. "I don't think you understand, let me teach you today..." As he spoke, he reached for the horsewhip in the messenger's hand, and slapped the handyman across the head and face. "My lord, spare me the little one, I know I was wrong..."

"Do you know how hard it is for them to stick to the border? Humph! Do you know how the Huns slaughtered the border people? Humph! Do you know how long the monsoon in Saibei can blow at a time? Humph! You don't have a conscience, Go, take off your clothes now, pick up the horse manure and wipe the horse urine for me, do you hear me?" The handyman was already trembling and inhuman: "I heard... the little one will definitely do it." Fusu patted the stunned messenger: "Let's go, follow me into the Golden Palace." The messenger took off his saber, hung it on the saddle bridge, nodded and said, "Thank you, my lord!" This is sincere, from the heart, The messenger has long heard that Mr. Fusu is approachable and kind to the lower class people. Today's scene made the messenger feel deeply.

Where the messenger and the young master passed by, the palace servants and Huangmen saluted with their chests upright, they did not dare to neglect, they had already seen the scene just now.When the messenger came to the entrance of the Golden Palace, he shouted loudly: "Report—Jiuyuan County Report—Northern Xinjiang Great Victory—" All the officials sat cross-legged on the bamboo mat, facing the first emperor.Outside the door, the messenger shouted repeatedly: "Jiuyuan Zuobao——Great Victory in Northern Xinjiang", the arches were connected with each other, and the messenger couldn't count how many doors he had entered.A man from the palace stood at a door and shouted: "The emperor has a decree, and the messenger will come in and report it!"

The messenger was exhausted, and walked into the hall with his son Fusu one after the other. Fusu hurriedly greeted him and sat down in his seat.The messenger knelt down and kowtowed: "Long live my emperor, long live, long live!" The eunuch next to him hurried a few steps and took away the memorial that he held in both hands.The eunuch boarded Danchi with the report in both hands, and presented it to the first emperor with both hands. The First Emperor remained calm and unfolded slowly, and after a while his brows were beaming with joy: "This is a good news. Ren Xiao repelled tens of thousands of Huns, all my loves, guess who is helping him? It turned out to be General Meng Tian. All my loves , General Meng Tian went to the hinterland of the Xiongnu to investigate the military situation for several months, and he has successfully returned to Jiuyuan County, and he will return to the capital in a few days." The ministers were very happy to see the emperor, and their long-suspended hearts finally fell.Everyone was very excited, and there was a loud and cheerful sound in the court hall. This was a rare joy in the court hall for many days.

Minister Gongjia flattered: "Congratulations to the emperor, congratulations to the emperor. I am very fortunate to have rescued Jiuyuan!" Shihuang smiled and looked at the messenger who was still kneeling on the ground, and asked: "I come to ask you, have you ever seen Meng Tian in person? The messenger replied: "Report to the emperor, the villain is confirmed to be General Meng. General Meng and Ren Taishou are making a special trip to check the situation of the captives of the border people." The first emperor kept asking about the situation in the letter: "Ren Xiao said in the letter that Meng Tian dressed up as a merchant, and how many people did he bring with him?" The messenger did not feel restrained at all: "I report to the emperor that General Meng only brought one entourage with him, and was later spied by the Huns. He was identified and imprisoned for several months. It was not until the Xiongnu attacked Jiuyuan City and the guards were relaxed, that he was able to escape with the help of others. He also drew a map of northern Xinjiang." Shi Huang was very emotional: "Where is he in the Yunyou, he never forgets to serve the country!" Fusu said in a timely manner: "Father, it is a great blessing to have such a general in our dynasty!" Shihuang nodded frequently and said: "Reward the messenger. "

"The emperor has a decree to reward the messenger!" The palace man announced on his behalf.The messenger hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kind decree!" Then he got up and exited the hall. The first emperor solemnly proclaimed the decree: "Pass down my will, and build an altar of worship in the northern suburbs of Xianyang!" Fusu didn't go home after the imperial court, but rushed to the Meng Mansion like a horse. He wanted to tell the people of the Meng Mansion the great news, but his bigger intention was to take this opportunity to meet Lan Yuan.The doorman knew the young master, and was so panicked that he wanted to go in to report, but the young master refused to let him, but casually threw the reins of the horse to him, and walked quickly into the Meng mansion.Turning around the Linfeng Pavilion at the corner of the corridor, the graceful and charming Orchid Garden is walking towards you, Fusu's heart is in full bloom, and after many days of not seeing each other, this girl looks more and more charming.

Lan Yuan is a well-behaved woman, she usually dare not look around with her eyes straight outside the house, let alone look at a man with her eyes.He suddenly heard someone calling his name, he panicked, why did the voice sound so familiar, he looked up and saw the handsome young master Fusu approaching, looking at him intently.She quickly squatted down and saluted, her face was red and blushing, she was already shy and unbearable, and said angrily: "When did you arrive, the master? Why didn't the doorman tell you..." She looked dissatisfiedly at the doorman.Fusu said in a low voice: "I didn't want to tell you, I just wanted to surprise you!" Lan Yuan became more shy when she heard this, turned around and lowered her head, showing a shy attitude of a woman: "Go, no Seriously, what a sudden..."

"Who says people are not serious?" Fusu looked around and saw that there was no one around, and suddenly put his arms around Lan Yuan, and hurriedly touched her on the cheek, so startled that Lan Yuan was like a panicked rabbit, wanting to run, but thinking about it It's not right, so I had to let him kiss her, and suddenly my whole body went numb like an electric shock, "Young master..." I broke away incoherently, and moved a foot away.In this way, the two pretended to be innocent and walked into the middle courtyard from the edge of the vertical arch.Thinking of just now, Lan Yuan scolded herself for what's wrong, as soon as she saw this man, she couldn't restrain an impulse.

"Miss Lan Yuan, where were you going just now?" Fu Su finally got to the point.At this moment, Lan Yuan came back to her senses, and said to herself, hum!You finally came back, and answered casually: "Nothing, I have been talking with my mother. No, just now the old man was so tired that he just went to bed and rested. I was so bored that I went out for a walk." "Do you have a premonition that I'm coming?" Fusu asked intentionally.Lan Yuan's cheeks were already covered with red clouds at this moment: "Go, there's no shape anymore... Hey, what are you doing here today, why are you wandering around like this?" Fu Su immediately put on a show: "I want you Guess..." "Don't guess, just say what you want, don't talk about it." After a few contacts, I know that the young master is a very easy-going person, and Lan Yuan doesn't care about it, so he deliberately makes him lose his temper.Fu Su stopped insisting, and said: "Alright, let me tell you some good news, there is news about your elder brother Meng Tian." "Really?" Lan Yuan almost jumped up in surprise, and suddenly looked at Fusu, afraid that he would not be "serious".Fu Su felt wronged: "Miss Lan Yuan, no way! When did I leave you with such a bad image?" Lan Yuan smiled flatteringly and said: "I'm sorry." Then he said: "You are so serious when we meet. Half false and three points, my brain is stupid, I don't know when you are true and when you are false. Then I can really see my brother right away?" "Of course!" Fusu paused, and deliberately shook his head: "He has returned to northern Xinjiang, and is still fighting against the invasion of the Huns in Jiuyuan. Can there be false news of the victory at the border?" "Oh—I can finally see my eldest brother..." Suddenly, she stopped again, and stared at Fusu in amazement: "Eh, no, since it's a good news from the frontier, why didn't the second brother know about it?" Fusu convinced her , shook his head helplessly: "Lan Yuan, Lan Yuan, I really admire you. I didn't see if your second brother came back?" This credit does not count, if you don't tell us, we will know when the second elder brother comes back, but..." The two were playing while walking, when there were footsteps behind them, it was Meng Yi who had returned home.Seeing that it was Young Master Fusu, Meng Yi hurriedly bowed his head and raised his arms to salute Young Master: "Ah, Young Master is here first." Lan Yuan whispered to Second Brother, happily like a flying swallow, excitedly ran and shouted: "Mother, your son... I have news about my eldest brother, and he is still making great contributions at the border." Meng Yi pointed at Lan Yuan With a slender back, she smiled knowingly and said to Fusu: "Oh, this girl..." Meng's mother was already supported by Lan Yuan to sit up, and Lan Yuan said: "Mother, guess who told you the news of?" She consciously guided Mother Meng to look at the door.Sure enough, the young master Fusu walked in from outside the door, and said softly: "Auntie is always in good health?" Then he nodded slightly as a salute.Meng Yi, the youngest son, approached next to him, stepped forward and grabbed his mother's hand: "Mother, the young master is here..." Mother Meng didn't seem to be sleeping at all, and the exhaustion on her face hadn't faded: "Thank you, young master, okay, Lan Park, quickly prepare a seat for the young master." Lan Yuan hastily turned around to show Fusu a seat.The two glanced at each other, then turned away quickly.Lan Yuan said unnaturally: "My lord, please sit down." She put her hands down in front of her body, stepped back to stand beside her. "How is the emperor's dragon body?" Mother Meng didn't mean to mention Meng Tian at all. "Father is in good health." Fusu understood Meng's mother's intentions in his heart, and the old man was still complaining about Meng Tian who had been away from home for too long, so it was inconvenient to force him.On the contrary, Meng Yi did not avoid family matters, and said: "Mother, you can't blame elder brother anymore, he is coming home soon, is it possible that you will not let him enter the house?" Mrs. Meng Yi also stepped forward to support her mother-in-law's shoulders: "Mother, in fact, my brother is also very bitter. As a general of the Qin State, he cares about the safety of the country and the people, so he cannot be filial to you. My brother's guilt towards you is One can imagine..." Mother Meng turned her head and quietly wiped her tears, Lan Yuan hurriedly handed over her handkerchief.Mother Meng returned to normal, and then sighed: "Hey! Why don't I know this, what do you think of mother! Hearing that he is coming back, I am too happy... I am afraid that he will forget this little family, the Meng family All the men are like this." Meng Mu's words finally reassured everyone, but Fusu felt a lot of emotion.Fusu thought to himself, just from the unintentional words of Meng's mother, it can be seen that the generations of Meng's family are dedicated to the country and hardworking in the king's work. "Auntie's words have greatly benefited Fusu. How many princes in the royal family can understand the hard work of the generals! If it weren't for Mengmu, Fusu would have missed the opportunity to listen to the teachings. It can be seen How lucky my royal family with the surname Ying is to have these loyal people." Mother Meng felt so emotional when he heard Mr. Fusu, and she knew that it was the result of being petty to her sons, and she felt panicked: "Young master, please don't say that... Sigh! I blame the old man for being insane So much so..." Fusu got up and said, "Auntie, please don't...Although Fusu assists the emperor in handling government affairs, there are many things he lacks! He can't do without accumulating learning in communication and life. Half complacent. Well, I won't delay your family reunion, it's getting late, I should go too." Seeing this, Meng's mother hurriedly shouted: "Young master, why don't you leave after eating? Yi'er, why don't you keep the young master?" "Mother——" Meng Yi knew that Fusu's thoughts were still tied to the other end, so he followed Fusu out of his mother's house, and said to Lan Yuan who was closely behind him: "Yuanyuan, send me off for my brother." The implication is that no one knows.Lan Yuan was already blushing with embarrassment, glared at her second brother reproachfully, stomped her feet, but still followed Fusu.Meng Yi stood on the steps and did not go down, he bowed his hands and said: "My lord, I'm sorry to see you off!" "General Meng, please stay and Fusu will leave." He glanced affectionately at the unnatural Lan Yuan, which meant: Hurry up and leave!The two walked around the large courtyard and corridors, chatting while walking, a pair of handsome teenagers and young girls were enviable.In the end, I don't know when Fusu was sent away, and everyone didn't care anymore, but the girl Lanyuan was more shy than before, and she became more energetic and beautiful. In autumn, the suburbs of Xianyang are full of melons and fruits, and the rice is fragrant.It rained heavily the day before, and the fog barrier of the morning sun has just cleared away, and the mountains are as green as washed, it is really a field of yellow flowers and a sky of blue clouds.Luoshui Yiwan brocade belt gurgling down the southeast, against the light dyed belt of Yunyang Mountain.Thin clouds float, what a golden autumn charm. A team of more than ten riders galloped along the official road by the Luoshui River with the sound of hoofs breaking. The leader was General Meng Tian, ​​whom the first emperor had been looking forward to for a long time.A flying royal guard arrived, well dressed, without getting off the horse, let go of the reins and saluted: "The emperor has a decree..." Hearing this, Meng Tian hurriedly abandoned his stirrups and got off his horse, kneeling beside the road: "Meng Tian, ​​the last general, accepts the decree ..." "The emperor ordered that General Meng not to be too tired, just arrive before noon." After the announcement, the flying horse turned the horse's head and galloped back, leaving Meng Tian to get up and continue on his way. On the shore of Luoshui in the northern suburbs of Xianyang, the construction of the welcome pavilion began a month ago, and it was finally completed recently.The vault is surprisingly huge, with a vertical arch at the front, stopping to connect to the official road to the north.More than a dozen steps descend slowly, with a majestic momentum.For a long time, there had been imperial retinues standing around and lining up the formation.The people nearby had never seen such a formation, and they crowded around to see what happened. Everyone was looking up at the welcoming pavilion with undiminished interest, admiring its magnificence, when suddenly they rode up and told a few words to a head of a thousand households on the horse, and saw the head of a thousand households shouting, dozens of The Imperial Forest Army came rushing forward, holding long spears to drive the people away from them. "Quick, quick... get out of the way! No one is allowed to enter within a hundred paces." Those who watched the excitement dared not disobey, and hurriedly obeyed the order and retreated a hundred paces away.Some were afraid of causing a fatal disaster, so they simply withdrew and left, and those who were not afraid of trouble waited unwillingly outside the limited range to see what kind of military affairs it was.Just as he was in doubt, a trumpet fired at the gate of the North Temple in the far suburb of the city. Hundreds of chariots and chariots left the North Temple and drove to the Yingbin Pavilion.The door was opened for the first chariot, and the ministers greeted the ninety-five-year-old First Emperor. On the left was Prime Minister Li Si, on the right was Prince Fusu, and behind him were all civil and military officials. The first emperor wore a nine-tin python robe, with a blue dragon piercing the chest and a white tiger on the back; the red bird was tucked in on the left, and the basalt was placed on the right. Gold piping.The front and back of the crown ivory panels are beaded into a curtain, and the tassels composed of 360 pearls and emeralds, the shoulders are dropped at the back, and the forehead is covered in the front, shining brilliantly under the golden autumn sun.All these clothing structures formed a five-color halo around the supreme and noble emperor, coupled with the majesty of the imperial guards, the entire lineup was magnificent, extraordinary, and god-like, showing unique and supreme power.In the eyes of the heads of Guizhou, the first emperor was as majestic as the emperor of heaven, and no one dared to overthrow him. At this moment, the first emperor's face was full of longing, and his eyes looked forward involuntarily.The messenger rushed to report: "Your Majesty, Meng Tian is still fifteen miles away from here." "Report—there are still ten miles." "Report - has entered the suburbs of Beijing..." At this time, Shi Huang strode down Danchi when he heard it, and all the ministers were so panicked that they continued to persuade: "Your Majesty, let's get on the chariot and go." Shi Huang acted as if he hadn't heard. "Long live... Long live!" Everyone knelt down and begged in unison, so that the first emperor could not let the first emperor walk to welcome Meng Tian. "Your Majesty, why don't you just wait here?" Li Si anxiously stepped forward to persuade, but Shi Huang still remained silent and stepped down the last step.Meng Yi saw that he was about to cause his elder brother to be disrespectful, so he took a few steps quickly, and leaned sideways to the side of the first emperor: "Your Majesty, please wait here! It is not in accordance with etiquette for you to condescend to flatter Meng Tian like this. Just imagine how Meng Tian would behave." Bear it?" Shihuang then looked at Meng Yi seriously, stopped, and the yellow cloak canopy rushed to cover the sun. At this time, 5000 Tigers and Ben troops lined up on both sides of the road, and Meng Tian's squad of more than ten cavalry continued to move forward.Before Meng Tian entered the road between the tiger and ben army, he had already rolled off his horse, walked a few steps forward, knelt down and saluted, then got up and rushed towards the majestic Qin Shihuang.His anxious state is enough to show that he was frightened by the great grace in front of him.When he got close, Meng Tian knelt down again, performed three kneeling and nine kowtows, and shouted: "Your Majesty, long live, long live, long live!" He performed three kneeling and nine kowtows again: "Your Majesty, how can you condescend so much, Meng Tian How can He De dare to accept the great grace of the emperor?" Shi Huang stretched out his hand to help Meng Tian: "I want to hurt you, Ai Qing, get up quickly." Meng Tian couldn't kneel down, and saluted again with tears in his eyes.Shihuang grabbed Meng Tian's arm with both hands: "Let me take a good look... Humph! She's thinner, but she's more sophisticated." "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern." Meng Tian said frankly: "I have lived in the mountains for a long time, isolated from the world, and have become very dull. When I left back then, I was already guilty of disloyalty and filial piety. , The minister is really ashamed, too late to regret it!" "Where did you say it?" Shihuang was so excited, he pulled Meng Tian and said, "Come into the pavilion quickly! You and my ministers drink a cup of dust-cleaning wine first." Meng Tian gently broke away from the first emperor: "Your Majesty, it is not in etiquette to keep pace with you, you should be in front..." Shihuang respected him, and secretly thought that the three generations of the Meng family have always been unambiguous about the etiquette of monarchs and ministers, as expected, so they did not force it: " Well, it's up to you!" Saying that, he let go of Meng Tian, ​​and walked into the pavilion first.Meng Tian then walked nine steps away and entered the welcome pavilion. The stone table was ready for offerings, but the first emperor still burned incense and cast a watch first, praying: the people who are waiting now are the pillars of the country, and it is impossible without this.I hope that the heaven, the earth, the king, relatives and teachers will help...together.Meng Tian held incense and prayed, saying that he was unknown, feared that the country would lose his trust, but did his best to accomplish military affairs... After the two burned incense and worshiped, Shi Huang took Meng Tian to the North Temple not far away, where he prayed to his ancestors Zong, and then Meng Tian rushed back to the palace on the imperial chariot bestowed by the emperor. Leaving the emperor and all the ministers behind, Meng Tian rode straight to the Meng Mansion in the western suburbs alone. If you pay attention to passers-by, you will find that this man has something on his horse - thorns.It was still early, but the lights on the streets and roads were already on. This was the capital where Meng Tian grew up.Meng Tian was in a happy mood, but he was also holding back some kind of self-blame.The reasons for self-blame are complex, mainly a sense of guilt towards the mother and family members. Turn around the corner of the street, and within a hundred steps straight ahead is the Meng Mansion.Meng Tian got off his horse and pulled the reins to move forward, his steps were staggering and his heart was heavy.The overwhelming feeling of guilt that the wanderer returned to his hometown made him almost breathless... Two riders stepped up behind him, and the ones who got off their horses were the younger brother Meng Yi and the son Fusu. "My son..." "General..." Meng Yi had other business today, so he didn't meet his elder brother. "elder brother……" "Brother..." The two brothers embraced excitedly, speechless for a long time. "Brother, I thought you were already home!" "How's mother doing recently?" Meng Yi shook his head: "Mother has aged by no less than ten years in recent years." "Oh——" Meng Tian said to himself, "Meng Tian, ​​Meng Tian, ​​look at what you have done..." Fu Su comforted him from the side: "General, you don't have to blame yourself too much, there is no eternal youth in life." "My lord doesn't know. No one can imagine how much wronged my mother has suffered in her life. What we owe her is more than just a word of love." Meng Tian knelt down, took off his clothes, bare his back, and begged: "My dear brother, help me tie the bundle of thorns on my horse's back to my body..." "Brother... Let's forget it?" Meng Yi couldn't bear it.Fusu also said: "General, why bother?" "Brother, tie it up, otherwise, how peaceful my heart is. What is home and what is country, neither can be casual." Meng Yi then stopped insisting and tied the bundle of thorns to Meng Tian. In the twilight, the three of them walked towards the Meng Mansion together.The doorman looked at the three people in amazement, and suddenly exclaimed: "Isn't this the young master..." Quickly knelt down and kowtowed to Meng Tian, ​​not understanding why Meng Tian said: "Young master, you are..." Can't help but turn around Looking at Meng Yi as if begging.Meng Yi sighed with complicated emotions, and said helplessly: "Go and tell the old lady..." The doorman was even more ignorant, and ran into the house obediently.Meng Tian thumped his face and couldn't kneel down, only waiting for his mother to come out.Not long after, all the people from the whole family rushed out, all with their mouths half-opened in surprise, and the last one to come out was Mrs. Meng. With the support of Lan Yuan, Mrs. Meng was leaning on a bamboo-jointed dragon crutch in her right hand, she stared for a long time before she said: "My son, why are you here..." She burst into tears as she spoke.Lan Yuan quickly stretched out a handkerchief to wipe Meng's mother's tears. Meng Tian, ​​who was kneeling on the ground, was already weeping, and sobbed: "Mother is above, please punish your son..." Meng's mother stared for a long time, tears like Quan Yong: "Tian'er, aren't you stabbing your mother in the heart?" Meng Tian said with a solemn expression: "An ancient sage said that parents should not travel far. Meng Tian is not filial. , please punish me!" Meng's mother was eager to think about her children, she stepped forward and hugged Meng Tian, ​​and cried excitedly: "Mother misses you very much and is very angry with you, but what you have done is for the country, the people and the emperor, and you have made great contributions in Jiuyuan." You only want to be loyal to the emperor and love the country, no matter how bad your mother is, you can't be unclear about rewards and punishments!" The female relatives were all whimpering and sobbing, the men were all wiping away their tears, even the young master Fusu's eyes were moist, looking at this family he couldn't let go.Lan Yuan hurried over to untie the thorns for Meng Tian: "Brother, get up." Meng Tian still didn't want to let go of this: "Yuan Yuan, don't understand, please mother hit me a few times?" Meng's mother cried and let go of Meng Tian's head, Said fiercely: "Okay, let mother beat... beat!" Meng's mother waved her arm, but it fell gently on Meng Tian's bare back, she couldn't bear it after just a few times, and she hugged her son's head again and cried.Meng Tian cried and said: "Mother, I miss my mother so much..." Meng's mother said: "Mother, why not! Get up quickly..." In the middle of the night, Lan Yuan came out again to see off the young master, and Fu Su was moved by the vivid scene in the evening, before the two broke up outside the mansion, they cuddled tightly...